Articles by Haris Gazdar

Political and ethnic violence in Karachi has emerged as a third major source of the current internal conflict in Pakistan after the jihadist insurgency and the nationalist uprising in Balochistan. The violence could be reduced through negotiation between political parties which have much to lose from its continuation or further escalation.

With the passing of the 18th constitutional amendment in April 2010, democratic Pakistan's journey for political stability came within leaping distance of its destination, just as the chasm that needed to be crossed became deeper. The probability of success became greater as did the cost of failure. The process leading up to the passage of the amendment revealed as yet hidden sources of resilience within a polity that is reviled at home by an entrenched state apparatus and dismissed abroad as weak and ineffectual.

In a ruling hailed as historic by his supporters, the restored chief justice of Pakistan struck down as unconstitutional some of the actions taken by former President Pervez Musharraf. A reading of the verdict and of the politics leading up to it suggests that the judges are on a collision course with the elected government, and that retrospective judicial vigilance may hinder rather than aid democratic consolidation. More importantly, it is not clear how the judges and their supporters plan to use the power they are busy acquiring with respect to the key challenges facing state and society.

While much of Pakistan's "civil society" celebrated a famous victory in the restoration of judges sacked by Pervez Musharraf in November 2007, it continues to display an indifference bordering upon negligence to the existential threat to itself. President Zardari's bungling and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif's irrational ambitions brought a welcome relief to the jihadi apparatus at the precise moment when the noose around it looked like tightening.

To the disadvantage of the elected government in Pakistan, Mumbai has brought forward the moment of truth for the country's tentative transition to democracy. We may not have long to wait to see which way the matter settles. India too has a role to play. A diplomatic, legal and institutional approach can help pin down the culprits, and may even help the transition in Pakistan.